Washing machine



May E5, 3928.

B. E. GET'Z WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 1923 May 15, 1928.

-B., E. GETZ WASHING MACHINE Filed 'April 1 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 1%, 1 928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oar-Ice.

IBENJLKIN E. GETZ, OF HORTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MEBNE ASSIGNIIN'IS, OI ONE-HALF TO QETZ POWER WASH-ER CO., 01' MORTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF. ILLINOIS, AND ONE-HALF T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 01' MANIA.

-' Application filed April 14, 1923. Serial No. 881,968.

"This invention has' reference to washing machines, and'particularly to that type including a clothes container or'tubwhich 18 mounted for movement inthe frame of the machine. .In its preferred form the tub is mounted to be oscillated; however, one complete revolution is given the tub before it s reversed and oscillated in the opposite d1- rection. This-type of tub is usua ly in the form of a cylinder and known as an alternating rotary machine. While the mechanism isarranged to impart one complete revolution to the tub before being reversed,

those skilled in the art will understand that the operating means maybe arranged and constructed so as to give more or less than one complete revolution to the tub.

The invent-ilon has for its principal ObJBCt to provide a-controllable means for the tub or cylinder moving means; such controllable means movable to difi'erent positions and adapted in one-of its positions to im art movement to. the tub and in another 0 its positions adapted to restore the tub to normal stopped position without stopping the movement of the tub moving means.

The invention has for a further object to provide a controllable means for the tub moving means which is adapted to give to the tub a variable movement, such movement being under the fullcontrol of an attend-, ant and being dependent on the position to which the controllable means" is adjusted. In one position of the controllable means movement may be imparted to the tub, in another osition of the controllable means the tub is restored to its. normal stopped position, a variable movement being 1mparted to the tub as the controllable means is moved or held between such two described positions. The invention herein described and shown is an improvement on the generic idea disclosed in the ap lication of Thomas Litwiller and John eader bearing Serial No. 442,336 (Letters Patent No. 1,460,203 dated June 26,1923), and as to such generic disclosure a disclaimer is here made. Furthermore, this application is a com anion to.

an application ed of even date erewith, bearing Serial No. 631,965. In said companion application the mechanism is shown wnsnme mcamn.

msu: rrmsnunon, rnnnsravnnui, A conr'onanon or 2mmt is case there is disclosed an alternati rotary tub, as distinguished from a xiii which is oscillated less than one complete revolution, as is the case in the usual cylinder machine v The present improvement resides in the controllable means which is applicable to a cylinder and adapted to impart an alternating rota movement thereto, and in the inclusiono means for holding the controllable means in selective positions between its two extreme movements, whereby variable movement may be imparted to the cylinder,.at the will of the operator or attendant.

" That the invention may be more fully understood, reference isihad to the accompanymg drawln s, forming part of the description', and ilustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my controllable means for washing machines, and operating connections between. the same and a power means, the frame supporting structure of the machine. and c linder beingshown in dotted lines, with the cylinder in normal or neutral position, and dotted lines being used to illustrate movements of operating parts;

Figure 2 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1, the relation of the "controllable means and operating parts being the same, full and dotted lines indicating the movem ent of the parts to impart alternate rotary movement to the cylinder;

.Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2, except that the controllable means has been moved from an operative to an inoperative. position and the tub brought to applied to an oscillatory tub, whereas in normal position and stopped, without stopping the operating means, and

Fi ure 4 'is a detail showing a means whic is employed to stop and hold'the controllable means at different oints between the extreme and redetermmed points to which the controlla le means may be moved, whereby'variable movement of the cylinder is obtained.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

Inasmuchas I am not-concerned about the particular design or character of the machine, or the cylinder or tub mounted for movement therein, I have elected to show in dotted outline only, such parts.

Such a machine frame would include a suitable base 1, side members 2 and a top or cover 3. The tub 4 is here shown as an alternating rotary cylinder with a removable lid or section 5 for the insertion of clothes or fabrics into the cylinder and the removal of the same therefrom. As a mounting for the cylinder and operative parts frames 6 and 7 are provided. As the invention is a plicable to nearly,if not all, e linder, mac mes it is apparent the machine s own is for illustrative purposes only, and although shown without a casing or cabinet, such could be employed if desirable.

In Figure 3, the cylinder or tub has been restored to its normal position, or as some would say, returned to its neutral position, and stopped,.the o crating means continuing ,in operation, an the controllable means idling and without impartng movement to or disturbing the cylinder or tub. In Figures 1 and 2 the controllable means has been moved to a position which will cause the op -erating means to impart movement through the controllable means to the cylinder or tub, and as a resultthe cylinder or tub is alternately rotated, first in one direction then in an o posite direction, somewhat as indicated by t e full and dotted lines in Figure 2.

By normal or neutral position of the c linder or tub, it is to be understood'that t at is the position the tub occupies when it is sto ped (Figure 3) so that the lid or cover 5 tiiereof may be removed by an attendant topermit the removal of clothes or fabrics from the cylinder or tub and the placing of other articles or materials therein. Also, by the use of the word restore I mean the bringing back or righting of the cylinder or tub to normal or neutral position at the same time that the operating means is made ineffective so far as moving the cylinder or v tub is concerned, yet without disturbing the movement of the operating means.

I am aware that the patent art discloses various mechanisms for stopping and locking and holding a tub in neutral position. One, in which it is necessary to return the tub to its neutral position, by hand, after it is stopped and ,then lock it. And others which require the manual operation and adjust-.

ment of a certain part or arts which are subsequently actuated to re ease a clutch or equivalent means to sto the movement 0 the tub when it reaches. its neutral position. My controllable means when moved to one of its predetermined positions not only positively returns the cylinder or tub to its neutral position but stops it and holds it in such position, and the operating means can continue, in operation. When the controllable means is moved to its other predetermined position the cylinder or tub is simultaneously and automatically'released permitting it to be rotated by the operating means through such controllable'means.

8 designates a driving shaft, which may form a part of or be included in any suitable transmission, not shown, through which power is imparted to said shaft from the usual motor, not shown. To one end of said shaft is connected a crank-arm 8*, and connected to said crank-arm is aconnecting bar or pitman 9 which is adapted to have an operative connection with the cylinder or tub through the controllable means to be described.

Connected with or adapted to be connected to the cylinder or tub 4 is a shaft 10 journaled in any suitable manner in the frame 6, p

and said shaft has connected thereto a gear wheel or pinion 11. Meshing with said gear wheel is a toothed segment 12 having a pivotal connection with a member 13 connected to or supported by the frame 6. To said segment is connected a pivot member 14 arranged in spaced relation to the axis of the member 13 and on said member 14 is carried a casting 15, forming a bearing member and being formed with a barrel or sleeve-like part 16 and a chambered portion 17. Slidably carried through said barrel or sleeve-like part of said member 15 is a rod or bar 18, its outer and connected with a casting 19 having" connected thereto a pivot member 20 to which is connected a ever 21 fulcrumed at 22 to the frame 7. The inner end of the rod or bar 18 has-connected thereto ,a casting 23 having a shank 24 which is ivotally connected with the upper end of t e connecting bar or pitman 9.-

he rod or bar 18 is provided wlth a pluralit of spaced seats or depressions 25 with whic coact the ball member 26 located in the casting 15 at the lower end of the chamber 17 in which is carried the spring 27 to normally hold the ball member in "contact with the rod or bar 18. As the rod or bar 18 is moved back and forth through the casting 15 the ball member 26 will ride or roll 1 on the surface of said rod or bar, and enter into each seat or depression 25 brought coincident therewith. The lock formed by the ball and seats or depressions to hold the rod or bar in different positions, whereby a variable movement may be imparted to the cylinder or tub, may be felt out by the .attendant during the movement of said bar f or rod,

and'yery little effort or exertion on the part of the attendant will be required to l release the rod or-bar and to move it to its two extreme and redetermined positions, one operative and t e other inoperative.

When the parts are in operative position the member 20 is in axial coincidence with the axis of the pivot member 13 for the toothed segment, the rod or bar 18 having been moved outwardly bringing the casting 23 on the inner end thereof adjacent the casting 15 on the pivot member 14. In such position of the parts the rod or bar 18 may e oscillated .up and down around the pivot member 20, as the connecting or pitman bar 9 is moved up and down, due to the rotation of the crank-arm 8", the thrust of said bar 9 being substantially in the direction of the pivot member 14 on the toothed segment and oscillating said segment, resulting in an alternate rotary movement being im parted to the gear wheel or pinion 11 and a like movement being imparted to the cylinder or tub, somewhat as illustrated in Figure 2. When the parts are in inoperative position, that is so far as the movement of the segment 12 and cylinder or tub is concerned, the pivotmember 20 is in axial coincidence with the pivot member 14 on said segment and the casting 19 on the outer end of the rod or bar 18 has been moved to a position adjacent the casting 15. In this position or the parts as the connecting bar or pitman 9 is moved up and down the rod or bar 18 will be oscillated but will idle on the pivot member 20, somewhat in the manner shown in Figure 3, and without impartin movement to the segment 12 or the cylinder or tub. The movement of the lever 21 which will bring the member 20 into axial coincideuce with the member 14: automatically restores the cylinder or tub to the normal or neutral position seen in Figure 3 in addition to the advantage of restoring the cylinder or tub to normal or neutral position. and stopping its movement, my improvement has the further advantage of permitting the attendant to move the con trolling means to different selective positions between its two extreme and predetermined positions, whereby greater or less movement oi the cylinder. may be obtained. This is particularly desirable in the handling of coarse and line fabrics and clothing. "With such a controllable means as l have disclosed the movement of the tub may be gradually started and gradually stopped- I and there is no jerking or jiggling oi? the tub, as it is brought to a positive stop.v

"What ll claim is 7 1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a tub mounted to be alternately rotated, gearing arranged to impart alternate rotation to said tub, a lever means "for actuating said gearing having a plurality of predetermined fulcrum ositions, said means including a controllab e means for adjusting the fulcrum point of said no tuating means to move the tub or restore it to normal stopped position, and means for holding said lever means at difierent points between two extreme positions.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a tub mounted to be alternately rotated, gearing arranged to impart alternate rotation to said tub, an operatin means, operating connections between said gearing and said operating means, and a controllable means in said connections movable to said tub, a sleeve like member connected with said gearing, a rod having a slidable rotation in said member, a lever having a connection with one end of said rod for moving the latter alternately to operative and inoperative positions, and during such movement to the latter position bringing the tub to its normal position, an operating mechanism, and operating connect ons between said rod and said mechanism.

4:. In a-maphine oi the character described, in combination, a tub mounted "for movement, gearing arranged to impart movement to said tub, including a segment gear member, a sleeve like member connected with said segment gear and in spaced relation to its axis, a pivotally supported rod having a sliolable relation in said sleeve like memher, and means For moving the axis of the pivot for said rod alternately into axial coincidence with the axis of said segment gear and the axis oit' said pivot member.

5. In a machine oi the character described, in combination, a tub mounted for movement, gearing arranged to impart movement to the tub, including a segment gear, a member connected with said segment gear in spaced relation to its axis, a rod -slidably carried throu b said member and provided with a plural ity of spaced indentations, a lever, a member on one end of rod in pivotal connection with said lever, the axis of which is adapted to be moved alternately into axial coincidence with the axis-ol'the segment gear and the member connected thereto, means to oscillate said rod, and means to engage in the indentations in said rod to hold the rod in diderent positions.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a tub mounted for move ment, gearing arranged to impart movement ice to the tub, including a segment gear, a drivliiil) connecting the rod and shaft, a lever, and with the member connected to the segment means pivotally connecting said rod with gear to simultaneously restore the tub to said lever, said pivotal connection of the normal position and stop the movement of rod and lever adapted to be moved into axial gearing and tub.

5 coincidence with the axis of the segment In witness whereofilhave hereunto aflixed member to operate the gearing and tub and my hand this 11th da of April, 1923. adapted to be moved into axial coincidence i BE JAMIN E. GETZ. 

